JAMES PURDEY 20 BORE SINGLE BARREL PERCUSSION STALKING RIFLE WITH ORIGINAL CASE.

JAMES PURDEY 20 BORE SINGLE BARREL PERCUSSION STALKING RIFLE WITH ORIGINAL CASE. SN 1843. Cal. .640 Groove diameter. 10-Groove rifling. 26″ Skelp twist full octagon barrel (Factory records indicate that original length was 29″. Barrel measures 26″ and this appears to be its original length. What is undoubtedly the original case, fits this bbl length perfectly. (Most likely a 6 and 9 were transposed in the records.) Top flat is engraved “J Purdey. 314-1/2 Oxford Street, London.” and is fitted with one standing, one folding platinum lined express sight, marked for 50 and 100 yards. Front bead is dovetailed through top of bbl, which has also been cut for sight hood. Bottom of bbl is stamped with SN, London proofs, and “JP”. There is another stamped set of initials “J.D” behind loop. Under-rib is fitted with two pipes; the front one mounted with sling eye. Rosewood ramrod has horn button tip, and brass tail. SN is stamped on side toward tip. Patent breech is stamped with SN on hook, has vented platinum “blow-out”, and platinum lines inlaid fore and aft. Breech iron is engraved with open flowing scroll. Front action lock has broad flat serpentine hammer and rear sliding safety that engages at half cock. Lockplate has more open flowing scroll and is engraved “Purdey”. Trigger plate has stylized pineapple engraved with shell motif and is fitted with single set trigger. Trigger guard extends to form pistol grip, and is also scroll engraved. Dense, stump figured European walnut stock measures 14″ over steel buttplate with scroll engraved long top tang. There is a small hinged spring-loaded patchbox on right side of butt. This is one of the first patchboxes fit by Purdey and is described in Patrick Unsworth’s book THE EARLY PURDEYS on page 82. Stock also features small shadow line right hand cheekpiece and 18 LPI flat top checkering with mullered borders. There is a sling button on toe line. Stock attaches to bbl with side nail through engraved steel oval escutcheons. Transition to under-rib is horn. Beaded steel thimble has some feather engraving. Original makers mahogany case has inset swinging brass hook closure, and inlaid brass D-ring handle. Interior is lined with green baize with original Purdey 314-1/2 Oxford Street label, printed in blue ink. Removable box is of mahogany, and rifle SN is in India ink on 3/4″ paper dot under box. Accessories include 5″ copper-bodied brass-topped un-maker-marked powder flask, 1″ steel patch cutter, small pewter oil bottle, ebony and rosewood loading mallet, brass round ball mold stamped “20” on screw-cutter, lignum vitae patch container, 2-pc brass and rosewood cleaning rod, rosewood handled nipple wrench with pricker, and turnscrew, along with the original key. PROVENANCE: Email giving particulars of this rifle from Purdey records. Unsworth lists this rifle as extant. CONDITION: Fine, as restored. Bbl retains virtually all of a best re-brown with excellent definition to pattern. Most all other metal parts have been re-struck with engraving restored, with the exception of the patchbox, trigger plate, and thimble, which are original. Wood retains most of what appears to be an old re-polish, and is quite pleasing. Checkering is slightly worn, and somewhat filled with finish. Forend checkering has been re-cut. Bore is good, rifling strong, but finely pitted throughout. Lock and safety work, as does set trigger. Ramrod is replacement. Case is very fine, and appears to retain most of its original outer finish, perhaps with some oil rubbed in, with numerous marks, slight stains and scuffs. There is one full length crack on bottom, and a few other minor cracks. Interior cloth is very fine with some marks and soiling. Label is very fine, slightly foxed, with one area worn through from contact with hammer screw. Top cover of removable box is a well done replacement, as is cover of flask compartment. Loading mallet, oil bottle, flask, patch cutter, and base of patch container look to be original, and are the right type for the rifle. Cover for the patch container has been nicely made, but does not fit quite right. Mold, although the correct size, does not match the condition of the other accessories. Cleaning rod, nipple wrench, and turnscrew are well made reproductions. 4-40716 MGM81 (6,000-9,000)

Auction: Firearms - Fall 2010

Please Note: All prices include the hammer price plus the buyer’s premium, which is paid by the buyer as part of the purchase price. The prices noted here after the auction are considered unofficial and do not become official until after the 46th day.

Image	Lot	Price	Description
	1354	$4,600.00	JAMES PURDEY 20 BORE SINGLE BARREL PERCUSSION STALKING RIFLE WITH ORIGINAL CASE. SN 1843. Cal. .640 Groove diameter. 10-Groove rifling. 26″ Skelp twist full octagon barrel (Factory records indicate that original length was 29″. Barrel measures 26″ and this appears to be its original length. What is undoubtedly the original case, fits this bbl length perfectly. (Most likely a 6 and 9 were transposed in the records.) Top flat is engraved “J Purdey. 314-1/2 Oxford Street, London.” and is fitted with one standing, one folding platinum lined express sight, marked for 50 and 100 yards. Front bead is dovetailed through top of bbl, which has also been cut for sight hood. Bottom of bbl is stamped with SN, London proofs, and “JP”. There is another stamped set of initials “J.D” behind loop. Under-rib is fitted with two pipes; the front one mounted with sling eye. Rosewood ramrod has horn button tip, and brass tail. SN is stamped on side toward tip. Patent breech is stamped with SN on hook, has vented platinum “blow-out”, and platinum lines inlaid fore and aft. Breech iron is engraved with open flowing scroll. Front action lock has broad flat serpentine hammer and rear sliding safety that engages at half cock. Lockplate has more open flowing scroll and is engraved “Purdey”. Trigger plate has stylized pineapple engraved with shell motif and is fitted with single set trigger. Trigger guard extends to form pistol grip, and is also scroll engraved. Dense, stump figured European walnut stock measures 14″ over steel buttplate with scroll engraved long top tang. There is a small hinged spring-loaded patchbox on right side of butt. This is one of the first patchboxes fit by Purdey and is described in Patrick Unsworth’s book THE EARLY PURDEYS on page 82. Stock also features small shadow line right hand cheekpiece and 18 LPI flat top checkering with mullered borders. There is a sling button on toe line. Stock attaches to bbl with side nail through engraved steel oval escutcheons. Transition to under-rib is horn. Beaded steel thimble has some feather engraving. Original makers mahogany case has inset swinging brass hook closure, and inlaid brass D-ring handle. Interior is lined with green baize with original Purdey 314-1/2 Oxford Street label, printed in blue ink. Removable box is of mahogany, and rifle SN is in India ink on 3/4″ paper dot under box. Accessories include 5″ copper-bodied brass-topped un-maker-marked powder flask, 1″ steel patch cutter, small pewter oil bottle, ebony and rosewood loading mallet, brass round ball mold stamped “20” on screw-cutter, lignum vitae patch container, 2-pc brass and rosewood cleaning rod, rosewood handled nipple wrench with pricker, and turnscrew, along with the original key. PROVENANCE: Email giving particulars of this rifle from Purdey records. Unsworth lists this rifle as extant. CONDITION: Fine, as restored. Bbl retains virtually all of a best re-brown with excellent definition to pattern. Most all other metal parts have been re-struck with engraving restored, with the exception of the patchbox, trigger plate, and thimble, which are original. Wood retains most of what appears to be an old re-polish, and is quite pleasing. Checkering is slightly worn, and somewhat filled with finish. Forend checkering has been re-cut. Bore is good, rifling strong, but finely pitted throughout. Lock and safety work, as does set trigger. Ramrod is replacement. Case is very fine, and appears to retain most of its original outer finish, perhaps with some oil rubbed in, with numerous marks, slight stains and scuffs. There is one full length crack on bottom, and a few other minor cracks. Interior cloth is very fine with some marks and soiling. Label is very fine, slightly foxed, with one area worn through from contact with hammer screw. Top cover of removable box is a well done replacement, as is cover of flask compartment. Loading mallet, oil bottle, flask, patch cutter, and base of patch container look to be original, and are the right type for the rifle. Cover for the patch container has been nicely made, but does not fit quite right. Mold, although the correct size, does not match the condition of the other accessories. Cleaning rod, nipple wrench, and turnscrew are well made reproductions. 4-40716 MGM81 (6,000-9,000) Auction: Firearms - Fall 2010 Please Note: All prices include the hammer price plus the buyer’s premium, which is paid by the buyer as part of the purchase price. The prices noted here after the auction are considered unofficial and do not become official until after the 46th day.

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